Salt Lake Bees: Memphis shuts out up-and-down Bees

Here they go again — a continuing identity crisis for the Salt Lake Bees.

Are they a winning team, a losing team or somewhere in between?

After Saturday's 8-0 loss to Memphis at Spring Mobile Ballpark, it's the middle category that applies when it comes to the team's record.

The setback snapped a two-game win streak and put the Bees (57-58) below .500 for the second time in six days. They've been even four times since July 30 and void of a winning record since July 31.

It's been a roller-coaster ride for a team that entered the night just 3.5 games behind division-leading Colorado Springs.

"We're pretty much a .500 club right now," said Bees manager Bobby Mitchell. "We're playing that way — especially tonight, we didn't do anything right."

While Memphis starter Trey Hearne held Salt Lake to just one hit over the first five innings, his teammates managed to put runs on the board.

Outfielder Jon Jay did most of the damage — hitting an RBI triple in the third and a two-run homer in the fifth. The Redbirds' other score came on a groundout by Tyler Green.

Leading 4-0, they added another run in the top of the sixth when Brian Barden homered.

The Bees, meanwhile, struggled at the plate. Bobby Wilson's two-out double in the fourth was their lone hit until Chris Pettit and Matt Brown singled with two outs in the bottom of the inning.

Memphis increased its lead in the eighth. An RBI double by Jarrett Hoffpauir was followed later in the inning with run-scoring singles from Barden and Shane Robinson to make it 8-0.

Hearne (2-0) earned the victory, striking out six over seven complete innings.

Salt Lake's homestand against teams from Tennessee continues today (4:05 p.m.) when Nashville, the top affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, comes to town for a four-game series.

Bees RHP Dan Denham (8-7, 5.28 ERA) and Sounds RHP Tim Dillard (10-4, 3.84 ERA) are the scheduled starters.

BEES WAX: Salt Lake starter Trevor Bell was pulled after two innings because of a big-league promotion. … Wilson has now hit safely in 14 consecutive games. … The attendance was 9,075, bolstered in part by an appearance from "The Famous Chicken" … RHP Jose Arredondo was recalled by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday. The 25-year-old appeared in 19 games for the Bees, notching 24 strikeouts and a 2.18 ERA. … Two Salt Lake players celebrated birthdays Friday. Pitcher Jeremy Hill turned 32 and slugger Matt Brown turned 27.

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com